June Springfield Healthy Cells 2011

SPRINGFIELD/DECATUR

area

Promoting Healthier Living in Your Community • Physical • Emotional • Nutritional

FREE

HealthyCells June 2011

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www.healthycellsmagazine.com

M A G A Z I N E

Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland page 14

Grilling Up a Festive Summer Feast page 8 Broccoli Compound May Combat COPD page 13 SIU Med School Specialist Offers Parents Advice on Tonsillitis page 25

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June 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 3

J U NE

2011 Volume 2, Issue 5

5

Mental Health: Healthy Aging

This Month’s Cover Story: Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland page 14

6

Emotional: Anger and Perfectionism

8

Nutritional: Grilling Up a Festive Summer Feast

10

Physical: Heavy Metals and Health

13

Breathing For Health: Broccoli Compound May Combat COPD

17

In The Community: American Cancer Society Relay for Life

18

Supportive Families: Not All Wounds Can Be Seen

19

Insurance: Are you Prepared to Live to 90?

20

Grief Recovery: When a “Less Than Loved One” Dies

22

Food Safety: Handling and Preparing Food Safely

24

Environmental Health: Earth-Friendly Household Tips Made Easy

25

Children’s Health: SIU Med School Specialist Offers Parents Advice on Tonsillitis

For information about this publication, contact Becky Ar ndt, owner at 217-413-1884, Becky@healthycellsmagazine.com Healthy Cells Magazine is a division of: 1711 W. Detweiller Dr., Peoria, IL 61615 Ph: 309-681-4418 Fax: 309-691-2187 info@limelightlink.com • www.healthycellsmagazine.com

Healthy Cells Magazine is intended to heighten awareness of health and fitness information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for medical attention. See your healthcare professional for medical advice and treatment. The opinions, statements, and claims expressed by the columnists, advertisers, and contributors to Healthy Cells Magazine are not necessarily those of the editors or publisher.

Healthy Cells Magazine is available FREE in high traffic locations throughout the Greater Springfield and Decatur area, including major grocery stores, hospitals, physicians’ offices, and health clubs. Healthy Cells Magazine is published monthly and welcomes contributions pertaining to healthier living. Limelight Communications, Inc. assumes no responsibility for their publication or return. Solicitations for articles shall pertain to physical, emotional, and nutritional health only.

Mission: The objective of Healthy Cells Magazine is to promote a stronger health-conscious community by means of offering education and support through the cooperative efforts among esteemed health and fitness professionals in the Springfield/Decatur Illinois area.

I wish to thank all the advertisers for their support of Healthy Cells Magazine’s mission to bring positive health related information to our readers. Because of their generosity we are able to provide this publication FREE to you.

– Becky Arndt

mental health

Healthy Aging Submitted By Psychology Specialists

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hen one thinks of health, physical health is probably the first thing that comes to mind. However, there is another form of health that is equally important, and that is mental health. Per American Heritage Dictionary, mental health can be defined as emotional and psychological well-being that allows a person to function socially and meet the demands of everyday life. Having good mental health and physical health are vital parts of maintaining overall wellness.

As we go through life, it can be more challenging to continually work on improving our mental health, but it becomes no less important.

There are several things that can help in building or maintaining good mental health. One is to develop coping strategies. Coping strategies are ways for us to cope with stressors. Throughout life, we encounter many different kinds of stressors and find effective ways to cope and manage our emotions in response to these stressors. Some people have difficulty in coping with certain stressors, especially those that relate to aging, such as increased physical health problems or loss.

A health psychologist is able to assist people in developing and utilizing coping strategies, such as relaxation, finding and engaging in pleasurable activities and processing feelings of loss.

Another way to help promote good mental health as we age is to practice mastery and autonomy. Mastery is participating in activities that you do well. Autonomy is to be able to exert a sense of independence when doing tasks. As the body ages, one may find that activities that used to come easily are now more challenging and require more assistance from others. This can cause one to question self-worth.

However, finding new tasks that can be done well and focusing on what one is capable of doing independently is one way to help promote good mental health.

Participating in frequent, moderate exercise can benefit mental health as well. Participating in exercise releases endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killers and temporarily boost mood. Other brain chemicals are also released, which results in an overall feel-good feeling. Exercise also reduces cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone that is produced in greater quantities during times of stress. People that exercise regularly are better able to fight off mild depression. Not only does exercise help to reduce depressive symptoms, it can also help to prevent depression by increasing the body’s natural ability to cope.

Another way to preserve mental health and increase coping abilities is to have adequate social support. This means having those people in your life that you feel comfortable discussing your thoughts and feelings with. Sources of social support can be friends, family, co-workers or even staff at a nursing facility. Discussing concerns with others can be helpful because this allows for the discussion of various ways to approach and solve a problem. This is similar to that old saying, “Two heads are better than one.” Most people feel better when they have someone to share good news with as well.

Having realistic expectations and being open and flexible to new experiences can also help people to maintain good mental health as they age. As previously mentioned, many people have changes in cognition and physical health that can be difficult to cope with. When people uti-

lize input from health professionals in order to create realistic goals, it is much more beneficial to mental health. Some people hope desperately for a goal that is unlikely to be achieved. For instance, if someone has been repeatedly told that they will not walk again, it is better to work on maintaining muscle strength and accepting physical health as it is.

Additionally, being open in terms of expectations can make it easier to adapt to unexpected changes in life. This can be challenging with age, as it can be easy to be rigid and feel that you have the experience to know what will happen and adapt accordingly.

Just as we work on maintaining good physical health throughout our lifetime, it is equally important to consistently work on mental health.

Combining the concepts discussed previously can help to maximize one’s ability to cope with whatever life may dish out. However, there may be times when it is difficult to cope with all that accompanies aging or to accept the unexpected. In such times, it can be helpful to consult with a health psychologist in order to learn how to best utilize your strengths, learn skills and make changes that you can maintain over time. Further, a health psychologist can help you to overcome barriers and cope with changes in physical and mental health that occur over time, meaning you are better prepared to maintain those positive changes you made.

For more information on Psychology Specialists, please contact the Decatur office at 217.520.1047 or visit our website at www.psychologyspecialists.com.

June 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 5

emotional

Anger and

By The FlyLady, Marla Cilley

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hen you finally have reached the absolute bottom and you think there are no place to go, there is always two more places. You can give up entirely and be planted six feet under or you can scream out for help and start pulling yourself up! You have a choice. The difference is you have to get mad and scream and not give up.

Anger is not a bad emotion. As women we have been taught to just take it and not explode with anger. Exploding with anger is rage and rage is not OK, but giving yourself permission to be upset and angry is a good thing. When you keep

“So anger can free you if you use it sparingly. Focus your justified anger toward what is making you angry and not at yourself.”

Page 6 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — ­ June 2011

Perfectionism it in, it is like poison. So what do we do to ourselves? We turn anger into sadness and we feel sorry for ourselves for being mistreated. Then WHAT? The anger goes to sadness and then to depression. We eat to make the hurt go away or we sleep to not have to deal with what is.

It is all our perfectionism again sandwiched with that procrastination that paralyzes us into depression. I can see you all shaking your heads at me. “How can perfectionism be the foundation to my feeling bad.”

Well here is how it all fits together.

When something goes wrong in our lives and we can’t fix it; what do we do? We can’t fix it to make it right again or we can’t change the other person; we want everything back the way it was. Do you see the perfectionism rearing its ugly head? We do everything in our power to CONTROL THE ISSUES — and make it all better — only to be shot down time and time again! So if we can’t do it right what do we do?

We were taught to do nothing!! I wish that was all we would do, but we have to turn it inward to abuse ourselves.

When we are unable to fix things we begin to feel guilty because of our inability to make things right or perfect. We then start to beat ourselves up. It is bad enough when we have been abused by others but now we are abusing the only person that cares for you: YOU! This is why anger is good! It is focused toward someone else and not yourself. Now it is not good to be angry all the time because you

are in fight or flight mode and when you really need to scream out for help you will not be able to. Adrenalin is an amazing body chemical. It is a power surge that supplies the energy right when you need it. This is how a mother can lift a car off of a child. I have said it many times, “Too much of a good thing can be bad for you.” Try eating a whole chocolate cake!

I have a good supply of adrenalin now. At one time I was totally depleted of my resources. I used them all up by always being upset and walking on eggshells. The adrenalin kept me from feeling what was happening inside my own body. It was a drug.

So anger can free you if you use it sparingly. Focus your justified anger toward what is making you angry and not at yourself. Do what you need to do to take care of the situation. Don’t turn it inward to punish yourself when you can’t fix it. You are not responsible for anyone but you. Let go of the guilt, pain and stress and be good to yourself by getting angry at the right person. Then let it go and get on with your life!

If you stick around the breeze will come your way and you will set out on your journey. Life is a journey not a destination.

So what anger have you been turning inward?

For more help getting rid of your CHAOS, check out her website and join her free mentoring group at www.FlyLady.net or her book, Sink Reflections published by Random House and her New York Times Best Selling book, Body Clutter published by Simon and Schuster. Copyright 2010 Marla Cilley. Used by permission in this publication.

June 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 7

nutritional

Simple Cooking Tips to Create a Delicious Barbecue

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ummer is filled with family picnics and barbecues, but you need to make sure that those burgers and pasta salads aren’t served with a side of bacteria.

Celebrity Chef Cat Cora is an expert at overcoming the complexities of cooking with exotic ingredients, including ostrich, oysters and venison; but even working with everyday staples, like chicken, beef, eggs and fresh vegetables, can present cooking challenges. These foods can carry common bacteria, such as E. coli, Salmonella and Staph — all of which can thrive throughout the cleanest kitchen. To help spread awareness about better kitchen practices, Chef Cora partnered with Ultra Palmolive® Antibacterial Dish Liquid, offering tips and providing simple solutions to help prevent cross-contamination in your kitchen.

Research shows that bacteria can easily spread to kitchen surfaces while preparing even the most simple of meals. Studies have found that: Page 8 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — ­ June 2011

• Bacteria on a cutting board can double after ten minutes of use, whether cutting raw meat or vegetables.

• Ten percent of bacteria on a cutting board can transfer to lettuce during chopping.

• E. coli that remains on washed and dried dishes can survive up to three days.

“Like all moms, I want to provide the best for my family while creating memorable meals at home,” said Cora. “Cleaning throughout the cooking process gives me peace of mind that I’m doing all I can for my family.”

For a perfect barbecue, try Cat Cora’s new summer recipes, and follow her simple food preparation tips, by visiting www.palmolive.com.

3 tablespoons breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion 1 tablespoon chopped scallions Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano) 4 brioche rolls, split and toasted 4 lettuce leaves, washed and dried 4 tomato slices 4 cucumber slices (optional) 4 thin slices red onion (optional)

Grilled Vegetables and Ginger Citrus Mayonnaise Serves 6 to 8

2 each crookneck or summer squash, baby zucchini, large whole carrots, large fennel or 3 medium fennel bulbs 5 to 6 shallots Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper Extra virgin olive oil Ginger Citrus Mayonnaise 3 juicy oranges, grapefruits, Meyer lemons, mineolas, tangerines, Mandarins, blood oranges, etc., cut in half (6 halves total) 3 tablespoons (or more for desired consistency) store bought preferred mayonnaise Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger Preheat grill for vegetables.

To make the mayonnaise, squeeze all the juice out from 5 of the 6 citrus halves into a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. When juice begins to boil, lower heat to medium-high and reduce juice until thick and syrupy, being careful not to let it burn.

Remove from heat, pour into a bowl, and allow to cool slightly. (At this point you can grill the vegetables). Whisk in mayonnaise, ginger, and cayenne pepper until smooth. Squeeze in juice from last remaining citrus half, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Cut all veggies in half lengthwise, rub all sides sparingly with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Grill, cut side down first, for 4 to 6 minutes if small, 5 to 8 minutes if large pieces. Flip so skin side is down, and grill all an additional 1 to 2 minutes, until all veggies are firm but easily sliced with a knife. Serve on platter alongside bowl of ginger citrus mayonnaise or drizzled on top of vegetables.

Greek Burger Sliders with Avocado Tzatziki Serves 4

1 pound lean ground beef 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, chopped 3 tablespoons crumbled feta 1 teaspoon dried dill

Stir together all avocado tzatziki ingredients (see recipe) and chill in fridge at least one hour or longer.

With your hands or a wooden spoon, mix ground beef, olives, feta, dill, breadcrumbs, onion, scallions, salt, pepper, garlic and oregano until all ingredients are evenly distributed. Shape the meat mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.

Grill over medium-hot coals or pan grill over medium heat for 5 minutes per side. The burgers should no longer be pink in the center.

To serve, place each burger on a roll, spoon on a little tzatziki, and top with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and onion slices to your taste.

Avocado Tzatziki Makes 2 1/2 cups

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 1 large clove) 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 cups plain nonfat Greek yogurt 1 cup peeled, seeded and grated cucumber (about 1 medium cucumber) 1 whole peeled avocado, diced small Add lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and salt to the yogurt. Add grated cucumber, diced avocado and mix well. Chill for at least one hour.

Cat Cora’s Tips During the summer, and throughout the year, use Cat Cora’s simple tips to reduce cross-contamination in your kitchen: • Keep mayonnaise-based foods, fresh meat and seafood at 40°F or freeze it. Bacteria may grow more quickly when items are stored at the wrong temperature.

• Thaw frozen meat and seafood in the refrigerator on a paper towellined plate, not on the countertop.

• Use a glass cutting board when slicing raw meats and vegetables.

The surfaces of plastic and wood cutting boards can be cut by knives during food preparation, and bacteria may hide in these porous areas.

• Clean as you go, washing prep tools and the sink after each use with a dish liquid such as Ultra Palmolive® Antibacterial Dish Liquid to help kill bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Staph when used as directed.

June 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 9

physical

Heavy Metals and Health

By Thomas Rohde, M.D.

Diabetes Uncontrollable?

Blood Pressure Giving you Fits?

Weight you can’t shed with a “clean” diet and a regular exercise program on board?

Fatigue You Can’t Get Beyond?

Aches and Pains you Can’t Control? – Fibromyalgia?

I

f you continue to struggle with maladies that you and your doctor can’t control and you’re really on the up and up as far as your diet and exercise and you’re taking your medications regularly yet you just can’t get to goal – start to think about heavy metal toxicity.

What are heavy metals? – Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Iron, and Nickel as well as a new kid on the block – Page 10 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — ­ June 2011

Gadolinium. You’ve no doubt heard of all of them, but I doubt you’ve thought of them damaging your body. We are living in a chemical soup and each day we are exposed to more toxins. Think of the recent nuclear disaster in Japan and the worry about radioactive materials drifting across the ocean – a reasonable concern. Yet we don’t think about the daily toxins dumped into the environment in other countries that drift across the oceans and land on our soils and in our water.

China comes to the forefront – no ecological concerns with the huge growth of their industrial base to supply us with cheap goods! Think of the current forest fires in Texas – trees when burned release heavy metals – arsenic for instance – absorbed from the soil and stored in needles and leaves, which fall back to earth and enter the water and the food chain.

The problem with metals is their environmental persistence. Water travels through the rocks and soil, leaching metals out, and is then used for a drinking source. Metals are mined, processed, and refined in smelters emitting fumes, hence brought into the ecology. Metals last

almost indefinitely in the environment. Lead from gasoline and paints both heavily used in the past persist and pose a daily threat. Dental fillings with mercury and other metals like silver, tin, copper, and zinc – known as amalgam – leach mercury vapors when you chew and are absorbed into your body. Look at the youtube video “smoking tooth” to understand this daily exposure hazard. This is worrisome if your child has more than one and if an adult has more than 4 fillings! Further, we have the problem of addition – more than one toxin combined in the body causing a potentiation of ill effects. Two relatively small doses of two different metals may have a dramatically enhanced effect when present together. For instance, the presence of lead (which is everywhere) makes mercury many times more toxic, likewise for cadmium which potentiates the kidney and liver damage. Smokers beware – the primary heavy metal in cigarettes is Cadmium – far deadlier than the chemical everyone talks about – nicotine! Metals can directly and indirectly damage DNA and that increases the risk of cancer (we call this genotoxicity). There are also associations of cancer due to irritation or immunotoxicity which means they alter your immune system whose primary function is to destroy and clean up abnormal cells that could turn into cancer. A number of metals are definitely known to be carcinogenic. These are arsenic and arsenic compounds, beryllium and beryllium compounds, cadmium and cadmium compounds, nickel compounds and hexavalent chromium (remember the movie “Erin Brockovich”?

The presence of toxic metals in our systems is highly significant for they are capable of causing serious health problems by interfering with normal biological functioning. Although they can be found in high concentrations in the body, a number of these heavy metals (aluminum, beryllium, cadmium, lead and mercury) have no known biological function. Others (arsenic, copper, iron and nickel) are useful in low concentrations, but are toxic at high levels. Heavy metals disrupt metabolic function in two basic ways: First, they accumulate and thereby disrupt function in organs and glands such as the heart, brain, kidneys, bone, liver, etc. Second, they displace nutritional minerals that provide biological function. For example, enzymes are catalysts for virtually every biochemical reaction in metabolism. So, instead of calcium being present in an enzyme reaction, lead or cadmium may be there in its place.

Toxic metals thereby critically disrupt enzyme activity and can lead to ill health – think Diabetes, Hypertension, and more.

suggest not more than one serving of big fish (tuna, swordfish, grouper, marlin, etc) a month. Ocean caught fish are better than farmed fish of the same variety if you must choose.

Adding supplements to increase kidney and liver health and detoxification function are a great idea. Start with Silymarin for your liver and think about N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and Alpha lipoic acid to increase glutathione for both kidneys and liver detox. Next add reasonable amounts of metal minerals to interfere with toxic heavy metal binding in the body such as a chelated Magnesium glycinate 100mg three times daily (we’re all deficient), small doses of Zinc (25 mcg) and Selenium (100200mcg) fills up the binding sites so the bad metals can’t stick around. Finally, add daily chelators that bind and eliminate metals from the body like Chlorella, a green algae. Similarly cilantro and aged garlic can be helpful.

How Do You Know if you have a problem?

If You’re Not Testing – You’re Guessing! Blood work to determine present exposure and body levels is a good start but it is insensitive to stored levels that are bound to your body’s tissues and organs. You will need to do a urine challenge test with a chelator like DMSA. Collect urine for several hours afterward, and then send it to a specialty laboratory to obtain results. Once the results return, then a plan of action can be put together.

Environmental hygiene, dietary change, supplementation to help the body heal and excrete heavy metals, and finally chelation may be utilized. Chelation is the use of a specific product that seeks out and binds heavy metals to itself, and is then excreted from the body via urine, stool, sweat, or saliva. Oral chelation with various compounds works well for some metals and is generally well tolerated. For higher levels or more rapid elimination IV chelation may be considered.

For more information contact Thomas Rohde, M.D. at Renew Total Body Wellness Center in Decatur, IL, 217-864-2700, or go to our web site: www.DrRohde.com.

What Can You Do? You could live in isolation on an organic farm, but we already discussed that metals are in the air, soil, and water, so there is no safe haven. The next best solution is to remove as much exposure as you can – drink filtered water from a source that safely removes the biggest burden of metals – think reverse osmosis. Think about having your dental amalgams removed SAFELY by an environmental dentist that has training in doing this safely to avoid increasing your mercury load. Decrease your fish intake – this is our biggest daily intake of Mercury as they concentrate water and food contamination in their body and then we get it from them. I June 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 11

Page 12 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — ­ June 2011

breathing for health

Broccoli Compound May Combat COPD

By Allison Bierly, Ph.D.

I

n Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), damage to immune cells limits the lungs’ ability to fight off bacterial infections. According to a new study, boosting the activity of a specific molecule in these cells can restore their defensive powers.

COPD is the third leading cause of death nationwide. It’s often brought on by cigarette smoking. COPD can cause shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, among other symptoms. In patients with COPD, immune cells called macrophages lose their ability to engulf and remove bacteria, making the lungs more vulnerable to infection. Infection can lead to inflammation, which is a major cause of impaired lung function and death in these patients. Until now, no one knew how to reverse this damage to the macrophages.

A team of scientists at Johns Hopkins University, led by Drs. Shyam Biswal and Robert Wise, investigated why macrophages don’t work properly in COPD patients. Previous research suggested that a process called oxidative stress might be to blame. Oxidative stress occurs when the body can’t effectively neutralize damaging compounds called peroxides and free radicals.

A molecule called Nrf2 can cause cells to make more antioxidants, which neutralize these harmful compounds. Previous studies found reduced Nrf2 activity in severe COPD. The scientists suspected that increasing Nrf2 activity might restore the ability of macrophages to remove bacteria. To test their theory, the team used a chemical called sulforaphane, which is known to activate Nrf2. A precursor of sulforaphane is found in broccoli. The research was cosponsored by NIH’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The results appeared in the April 13, 2011, issue of Science Translational Medicine.

The researchers first took macrophages from the lungs of patients with moderate COPD. When they treated these macrophages with sulforaphane, they saw higher Nrf2 levels in the cells. Sulforaphane treatment also boosted the ability of cultured macrophages to clear 2 of the major types of bacteria that infect COPD patients. Macrophage uptake of bacteria rose 300% after treatment, whether the cells came from smokers or nonsmokers.

Experiments in mouse and human cells revealed that sulforaphane, through Nrf2, increases levels of a receptor called MARCO on macrophages. MARCO activity was necessary for macrophages to engulf bacteria after sulforaphane treatment. Mice exposed to smoke had lower levels of MARCO. Furthermore, smoke-exposed mice genetically engineered to lack Nrf2 had more lung inflammation and higher levels of bacteria.

The team next tested treatment approaches that might help COPD sufferers. They gave sulforaphane with a nebulizer to mice exposed to smoke and found that the mice’s lungs showed reduced inflammation and bacterial burden. The researchers also gave human COPD patients broccoli sprout extract enriched with sulforaphane for 2 weeks.

The patients taking the extract had higher levels of MARCO and Nrf2controlled antioxidants in their blood cells. A NHLBI-sponsored clinical trial is now being conducted to test if sulforaphane can provide relief to patients with COPD. “This research may help explain the long-established link between diet and lung disease, and raises the potential for new approaches to treatment of this often-devastating disease,” says Wise.

Additional information provided by the National Institute of Health can be found at www.nih.gov.

June 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 13

feature story

Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland

By Julie Hubbard, MSW, Executive Director

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ondering who to ask about Medicare Part D? How to report suspected abuse of an older neighbor? Where to find supports and services for an older relative who lives in another state? Who to ask about caregiving issues? The Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland can provide answers to these questions and many, many more.

A private, not-for-profit organization, the Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland is designated by the Illinois Department on Aging to serve older adults and family caregivers residing in the counties of Cass, Christian, Greene, Jersey, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott. Part of a nation-wide network of 629 Area Agencies on Aging, the Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland is dedicated to helping seniors maintain dignity, health, and independent living in their own homes for as long as possible. Area Page 14 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — ­ June 2011

Agencies on Aging are responsible for planning services that will help meet the needs of older adults and caregivers, coordinating resources in order to facilitate a comprehensive service delivery system, and acting as an advocate for older adults residing in the Planning and Service Area.

The Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland provides many programs and services designed to increase the quality of life for persons 60 years and over and to support informal family caregivers.

With State and Federal funding received through the Illinois Department on Aging, the Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland awards grants and contracts to local service providers throughout the area for a variety of services. Funded services include Routine Health Screenings, Transportation, Congregate and Home Delivered Meals, Information and Assistance, In-Home Respite, Caregiver Counseling, Legal Assis-

care to others while maintaining balance in their own lives.

Informal caregivers are those unpaid persons such as family members, friends, and neighbors who provide assistance to someone who is to some degree incapacitated and in need of help with tasks such as grocery shopping, bill paying, cooking, or personal care. Grandparents or other relatives raising grandchildren have accepted primary responsibility for children through the age of 18. The June 8 program will be presented by officer Kim Overby from the Springfield Police Department, on the topic of Home Disaster Preparedness. Registration is required and can be made by calling the Area Agency.

On June 9, The Lincoln Prairie Pioneer Coalition, of which the Area Agency is a leader, will present “All Aboard the Relation-ship: Charting the Course for Culture Change,”

Robert Davies; Robert Matteson; Ray Wiedle, 2010 recipient of the Dorothy S. Kimball Award; and Will Tackaberry, Area Agency Board member.

tance, Long Term Care Ombudsman, and Medication Management.

Most of these services are available in each of the twelve counties served by the Area Agency. To learn how to contact local service providers in the twelve county area, call the Area Agency at 217/787-9234 or visit our website at www.aginglinc.org.

The Area Agency directly provides Information and Assistance, Caregiver Training and Education, a Senior Community Employment Services Program, and Caregiver Access Assistance. The Area Agency also assists older persons and persons with disabilities to enroll in Illinois pharmaceutical assistance programs and Medicare Part D. There is no charge for the services funded by the Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland, but voluntary contributions to the service provider agency are accepted. Donations are used by the programs to provide additional service.

The Area Agency is a certified Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) site, educating consumers and answering questions about Medicare, Medicare Supplements, long term care insurance, Medicare HMOs, private fee-for-service and other health insurance; assisting in filing Medicare and Medicare Supplement claims; and analyzing Medicare Supplement and long term care policies.

The Senior Medicare Patrol Program is a statewide partnership among the thirteen Area Agencies in Illinois, coordinated by AgeOptions, the Area Agency for Suburban Cook County. Its goal is to help fight waste, fraud and abuse, ensuring that benefits are not exploited and that people obtain the health care assistance they need.

The Veterans Independence Program (Veterans Directed - Home and Community Based Service Program) is one of the newest programs available in the area. In this program, Area Agencies on Aging accept referrals from Veterans Affairs Medical Centers for veterans of all ages who are at risk of nursing home placement. In collaboration with the VA Illiana Health Care System, Danville, local options counselors will complete assessments and assist veterans to set up a care plan. Veterans will receive a budgetary allotment that they can use to hire personal assistants or to purchase services they deem necessary to maintain their independence but not furnished through the Veterans Administration.

Monthly Lunch and Learn programs are held at the Area Agency, 3100 Montvale Drive. The goal of the series is to provide practical information that will help caregivers continue to provide quality

Yvonne Gregurich, AAAL Information and Assistance Specialist

a conference sponsored by the Illinois Pioneer Coalition. The Lincoln Prairie Pioneer Coalition is dedicated to the goal of changing care and quality of life for those older adults who live in long-term care homes or assisted and supportive living environments. The organization provides support, education and opportunities to network with others who share this common vision. This year’s conference focuses on building successful inter-personal relationships among staff, residents and families. Seven (7) continuing education units are provided by the University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine in collaboration with the Continuing Education Institute of Illinois.

The Area Agency currently is accepting nominations for its 2011 Dorothy S. Kimball Award for outstanding accomplishment in the field of aging. The Award has been established to honor individuals and organizations in the counties served that work in the field of aging or on behalf of older adults and/or family caregivers. The 2010 recipient of the award is Ray Wiedle, founder and chairman of the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, an organization that takes veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the World War II and other military memorials. Nominations will be accepted at the Area Agency on Aging through June 30. To request a nomination form, or for more information, contact the Area Agency on Aging.

Beginning July 1, the Area Agency will distribute Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program booklets for redemption by participating vendors at the Farmer’s Market in Springfield, Jacksonville, and Lincoln. Persons 60 years of age and older who meet income guideJune 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 15

feature story

(continued)

“I’ve learned so much from the Agency’s Caregiver programs. Each year that I attend they provide information that is helpful in the care of my husband — from making accommodations in our home to providing resources and knowing who to call for various services.

They can help others work through the beginning stages of caregiving.” lines are eligible for free coupons to be used to purchase $21.00 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables, while supplies last. Maximum annual income is $20,147.00 for a one person household and $27,214.00 for a household of two. $7067.00 is added for each additional household member. This program originates in the United States Department of Agriculture and is overseen in Illinois by the Department of Human Services. Call 787-9234 for further information.

On July 23, the Area Agency on Aging will host its Ninth Annual Conference for Caregivers, in Springfield. The conference will include presentations on caregiver issues, self-care for the caregiver, emotional and spiritual well-being, as well as exhibits of available services and products that can help make caregiving easier. The conference will be of interest to caregivers of older family members and friends in addition to grandparents and other relatives raising children. Participants in past years have given this conference high marks, noting that it is a day of respite from the duties of caregiving as well as a day to gain knowledge that helps them to better fulfill those duties.

The Area Agency on Aging is represented on the Illinois Senior Olympics Advisory Board that plans and implements the annual Illinois Senior Olympics. Senior Athletes (50 years of age and over) from across Illinois converge on Springfield to compete in events such as bowling, billiards, horseshoes, golf, miniature golf, pickleball, tennis, cycling, track and field, and bridge. More information is available at www.ilsenoly.org.

The Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland is equipped to answer almost any question related to aging and/or family caregiving services and supports. If we can’t answer a question, we can reduce the number of “blind calls” a person needs to make by making an accurate referral to another resource.

Staff members of the Area Agency are friendly and want to help individuals get accurate information.

Contact us at 217-787-9234, visit our website at www.aginglinc.org, or stop by the office at 3100 Montvale, Springfield, Monday - Friday, 8:00 to 4:30.

A New Supportive Living Community in Mt. Zion

Page 16 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — ­ June 2011

in the community

American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Sangamon County Register to Honor Loved Ones and Caregivers

T

he American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Sangamon County will join with other communities across the state to celebrate, remember and fight back against cancer. Form a team, walk in the Survivor Lap, join the Luminaria Ceremony – but be a part of this family-focused, overnight event to celebrate the lives of those who have cancer, remember those lost to the disease, and fight back against a disease that takes too much.

Relay For Life brings the community together in the fight against cancer. Teams raise funds - prior to and at the event - to help support services for cancer patients and their families in Sangamon County, research, community educational programs and advocacy.

“Relay is all about supporting cancer patients and their families who need the support and services of the American Cancer Society more than ever,” emphasized event co-chairs Jennifer Krueger and

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Sangamon County will be held on June 18, 6 p.m. to June 19, 6 a.m., at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (Gate 6 entrance, off of Taintor Road) in Springfield.

“Our goal is to raise at least $225,000. This money helps fund a variety of free services for area patients and their families, education and outreach, and life-saving research,” said Krueger. “Springfield has some amazing research going on and is even a “training ground” for future researchers through the American Cancer Society High School Research Program. Research helps all of us - no matter where we live – and is helping save lives and create a world with more birthdays. It’s a great feeling to be a part of making that all happen.”

Every service the American Cancer Society provides is always free of charge. While the Society does not provide direct financial assistance to patients, it does provide services that can reduce or

“I have so many loved ones and friends who have been touched by this awful disease.

Seeing thousands of candles honoring those who have gone, those who are fighting and those who have been or are now caregivers is so amazing. I do this because I look forward to the day when no one has to hear ‘you have cancer’. I continue to Relay and make sure that the candles are lit and glow throughout the night.”

Lou Robisch. “This year’s theme is “Recipes for Life.” We encourage you to bring a favorite recipe to share, set up camp and join us for an evening filled with hope and encouragement!”

Relay For Life starts with local cancer survivors uniting to walk the first lap of the event. Survivors are then joined by family, friends and co-workers who have helped them.

The Luminaria Ceremony is held after dark to honor cancer survivors and those who have lost their battle against cancer. Luminaria, decorated papers bags bearing the name of the honoree that are filled with sand and a lit candle, line the track and continue to burn throughout the night to remind participants of the incredible importance of their contributions. The Fight Back Ceremony, inspires and motivates participants to take action to fight cancer year-round.

For 15 years, luminaria chair Carole Walton has made sure that the track is lit with as many luminaria as possible to honor those touched by cancer and inspire walkers. “The Luminaria Ceremony is one of my favorite things about Relay,” said luminaria chair Carole Walton.

“I have so many loved ones and friends who have been touched by this awful disease. Seeing thousands of candles honoring those who have gone, those who are fighting and those who have been or are now caregivers is so amazing. I do this because I look forward to the day when no one has to hear ‘you have cancer’. I continue to Relay and make sure that the candles are lit and glow throughout the night.”

defer many expenses that area cancer patients face. Day-to-day, emotional support and information is available by calling the local office or the 24-hour hotline at 1.800.227.2345 where trained cancer information specialists answer your call.

Teams are now being formed and Luminaria to honor loved ones are also available for a $10 (per luminaria) donation. For more information, please contact the American Cancer Society at 217-5234503 or visit www.relayforlifesangamon.com. Teams may register on-line anytime.

About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force with more than 100,000 volunteers in Illinois and millions elsewhere, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and by fighting back. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer, and countless more who have avoided it, will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more or get help, call us any time at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

June 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 17

supportive families

Not All Wounds Can Be Seen Military Families Share Wounds as Service Members Transition to Life Back Home

I

t’s common for service members and their families to experience stress as a result of deployment and other life transitions. Service members and their families are not alone. Resources like the Real Warriors Campaign exist to support families’ overall well-being.

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Functional Medicine and Hormonal Evaluation Page 18 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — ­ June 2011

The campaign, sponsored by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), is a public education initiative designed to encourage help-seeking behavior for service members, veterans, and military families coping with invisible wounds. The tools and resources available through the campaign promote the processes of building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration for returning service members, veterans and their families.

The website (www.realwarriors.net) offers articles and practical tips for spouses and families of service members aimed to cover all aspects of military life and the deployment cycle, including articles about how to adjust to changes preparing for homecomings and how to help children cope with deployments and reunions.

Additional resources through campaign partners offer services and support for families of service members for coping with deployment, locating support and obtaining military benefits. They include: • S esame Workshop’s Talk, Listen, Connect initiative uses the friendly and familiar Muppet characters to provide resources for military families with young children coping with issues related to deployments, changes from combat-related injuries and the death of a parent. On www.SesameStreetFamilyConnections. org you can find extensive video and print resources on these topics, or use child-friendly tools to create a family network and stay connected.

• B lue Star Families (www.bluestarfam.org) provides online and physical chapter-based communities to bridge families with support and service organizations that help make military life more sustainable.

• T he National Military Family Association (www.militaryfamily. org) educates military families concerning their rights, benefits and services available to them and to inform them regarding the issues that affect their lives. NMFA provides resources and programs to educate the public, the military community and Congress on the rights and benefits of military families and to advocate an equitable quality of life for those families. NMFA sponsors Operation Purple Camps for children of deployed service members in many U.S. military communities around the world.

• FOCUS (www.focusproject.org) helps military families meet the challenges of deployment and reintegration by offering resiliency training and teaching practical skills. Through state-of-the-art family resiliency services, the organization’s programs guide families on how to effectively communicate and solve problems, set goals together and create a shared family story.

Families looking for additional support can reach out to trained health consultants at the DCoE Outreach Center through the live chat feature at www.realwarriors.net or by calling 866-966-1020 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

All families of service members should know that they should feel comfortable reaching out to service members’ units and other military and national organizations for support. Reaching out is a sign of strength that benefits your family and your service member.

insurance

Are You Prepared to Live to

90?

W

hile living to the age of 90 was once a rare feat, it is becoming increasingly common. You may be surprised to learn that the fastest growing demographic in the country is people over the age of 85. According to the latest life insurance mortality tables, 38 percent of men and half of women age 65 today can expect to live to the age of 90 or beyond.

Being able to live a long and full life is good news, of course. But you will have to plan well to be sure that you don’t run out of income when you may need it the most. Here are some suggestions from Dr. Robert Pokorski, The Hartford’s chief medical strategist, for planning a retirement that may include a 90th birthday celebration: • Consider buying a life insurance policy with an optional longevity rider.

While the main purpose of life insurance is to provide income to your heirs when you die, paying extra for The Hartford’s new Longevity Access Rider will allow you to begin receiving installments of your own death benefit when you turn 90 and meet the rider’s eligibility requirements. You are then free to use it to simply enjoy life or to help ensure you don’t outlive your retirement savings.

A $500,000 policy works like this: When you reach the age of 90, you can elect to receive a guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit of up to 1 percent of the death benefit of your life insurance policy.

In this example, you may receive monthly payments of as much as $5,000 per month for eight years. Even if you eventually withdraw the entire death benefit, a guaranteed residual death benefit will be provided, subject to the terms of the rider. Your heirs will still receive 10 percent of the benefit - in this case, $50,000.

• Consider purchasing an annuity to cover many of your fixed expenses later in life. Making conservative investments like this can help ensure that you’ll have a reliable source of income to cover such necessi-

ties as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, prescriptions, groceries, insurance and transportation. Any other retirement savings you have can be used to cover the cost of travel and entertainment or to pay for unforeseen expenses.

•P ostpone retirement. While you might consider putting off retirement to be a bad thing, you may decide to continue working in order to increase your monthly Social Security benefit. Delaying Social Security from age 62 to 67 will increase the amount you will receive each month by 30 percent. Postponing retirement will also increase any pension benefits you will receive in the future. You could even use the time to try working in a new field that has always appealed to you.

•P lan for a health emergency. Nobody likes to think about becoming ill, but planning for health-care emergencies is a part of smart retirement planning, especially when you consider that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 70 percent of retirees will need to pay for chronic care sometime during their lives. The Hartford offers life insurance policies with its LifeAccess Accelerated Benefits Rider. If you become chronically ill and meet the claim criteria, you can use the money you receive from the death benefit any way you like. You can, for example, use it to pay a family member to take care of you.

Turning 90 is a milestone worth celebrating. With good planning, you could live a long and comfortable life without worrying too much about your finances.

Consumers who want to learn more about The Hartford’s life insurance policies can call 1-877-439-0772 or visit www.hartfordinvestor. com/livingbenefits.

June 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 19

grief recovery

When a “Less Than Loved One” Dies

Page 20 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — ­ June 2011

Healthy Cells magazine is pleased to present the second in a series of feature articles on the subject of Grief Recovery®. The articles are written by Russell P. Friedman, Executive Director, and John W. James, Founder, of The Grief Recovery Institute. Russell and John are co-authors of WHEN CHILDREN GRIEVE - For Adults to Help Children Deal with Death, Divorce, Pet Loss, Moving, and Other Losses - Harper Collins, June, 2001 - & THE GRIEF RECOVERY HANDBOOK - The Action Program For Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses [Harper Perrenial, 1998]. The articles combine educational information with answers to commonly asked questions.

L

ast month we talked about grieving and completing our relationships with loved ones who have died. While the death of a loved one is painful, we are often complete with loved ones. That is to say that we have communicated our feelings about them, to them.

We believe that they knew how we felt and that we were understood.

When a loved one dies we may be overwhelmed with conflicting feelings, we may feel disoriented and confused, and we may feel robbed of one last chance to say I love you and goodbye. Even though we are often essentially complete when a loved one dies, after the death we usually remember some things that we wish we’d had a chance to say. We need to discover those unsaid things and say them. The appropriate methods for communicating the unsaid things are detailed in The Grief Recovery® Handbook.

What happens when a “less than loved one” dies — perhaps a parent or a sibling, someone with whom we should have had a more loving relationship? We are almost always incomplete when a less than loved one dies. Almost always we are left with the awareness that our hopes and dreams of someday having the relationship become pleasant and happy have ended. Even if our hope is simply not to be tormented anymore, the death often exaggerates the torment rather than diminishing it. That is when many of us report being “ruled from the grave.”

“The process of Grief

Recovery®

helps grievers identify and complete the undelivered emotional communications that keep them tied to past painful experiences with people who have died or with relationships that have ended or changed.”

Many people labor under the misapprehension that once someone has died there is no way they can complete any unfinished emotional business. Gladly, this is not true, or they would have to stay incomplete forever. The process of Grief Recovery® helps grievers identify and complete the undelivered emotional communications that keep them tied to past painful experiences with people who have died or with relationships that have ended or changed. This process obviously does not require that the person we are incomplete with be a living or willing participant.

Often our attempts to communicate with our “less than loved ones” failed, not because of our unwillingness, but because the other person was unable to listen to or talk about the things that we wanted

and needed to talk about. Quite often our attempts to communicate started new and larger battles which may have been added to our list of unfinished or incomplete emotional events with them. Even after they have died, as we replay the events, we keep winding up hurt and helpless. We do not know how to end the vicious cycle. We may attempt to NOT think about them, but then a reminder will appear, outside of our control. We may see someone in the mall who looks like them, or a car similar to the one they drove. These reminders will often send us back into the pain caused by the incomplete emotional relationship.

Most of you will realize that it is not possible to eliminate someone from your memory. You most assuredly cannot control the stimuli that cause you to remember a less than loved one. Even attempts at total isolation rarely work, as even dreams can rekindle painful memories.

When a “less than loved one” dies we are often left with an extremely lopsided memory picture, almost exclusively negative. It seems as if we have become the victim of these painful, negative memory pictures.

We are also confused by our relationship to the painful memories that keep recurring. We must grieve and complete our relationship to the person as well as to our relationship with the pain we generate when we think about or are reminded of the person. And, we must grieve and complete our unmet hopes and dreams and expectations.

You must become willing to re-experience some of the painful events, and finally communicate what you would have said had you been allowed to, or if you had known how. It may seem frightening to root around where there has been so much pain. Perhaps it would be more helpful to be frightened of the alternative, a life of restriction and limitation caused by staying incomplete. The alternative is to keep the pain forever, by trying NOT to remember, and by trying to avoid any circumstances or events that remind you of that person. Many people today talk of giving away their power. There is no clearer or more painful example of that then to have your life’s actions and reactions ruled by the painful memories of someone who is no longer here.

Question: The above article relates to a less than loved one who has died. What about less than loved ones who are still living?

Answer: The exact same principles apply when the “less than loved one” is still living. In fact, it is probably even more essential that you complete your part of that relationship as soon as you can. If not, you may live in constant fear of any kind of interaction with or reminders of that living person. Completion of your part of a relationship with a living person does not imply that the other person will or should change.

Most likely they will continue to be just who and how they are. The difference is that you will be able to live a life of meaning and value, not limited by painful reminders that a relationship did not live up to hopes, promises, dreams or expectations.

Next Month: “Am I Equipped For Happiness?”

For information about programs and services, write to The Grief Recovery Institute, P.O. Box 6061-382 Sherman Oaks, CA 91413. Call [818] 907-9600 or Fax: [818] 907-9329. Please visit our website at: www.grief-recovery.com.

June 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 21

food safety

Handling and Preparing Food Safely F

oodborne pathogens are sneaky. You can’t tell by looking, smelling, or even tasting a food whether it contains pathogens. But these pathogens — like disease-causing bacteria, viruses, or parasites — can make you sick.

As an older adult, it is especially important for you — or those preparing your food — to be careful with food handling and preparation. The easiest way to do this is to follow the Four Basic Steps to Food Safety – clean, separate, cook and chill – from the Fight BAC!® Campaign, the national campaign developed and promoted by the Partnership for Food Safety Education.

Four Basic Steps to Food Safety 1. Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often Bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get onto cutting boards, utensils, counter tops, and food.

To ensure that your hands and surfaces are clean, be sure to: • Wash hands in warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets.

• Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops with hot soapy water after preparing each food item and before going on to the next food.

• Consider using paper towels to clean up kitchen surfaces. If using cloth towels, you should wash them often in the hot cycle of the washing machine.

• Wash produce. Rinse fruits and vegetables, and rub firm-skin fruits and vegetables under running tap water, including those with skins and rinds that are not eaten.

• With canned goods: remember to clean lids before opening.

2. Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria are spread from one food product to another.

This is especially common when handling raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs. The key is to keep these foods — and their juices — away from ready-to-eat foods.

Page 22 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — ­ June 2011

To prevent cross-contamination, remember to: • Separate raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs from other foods in your grocery shopping cart, grocery bags, and in your refrigerator.

• Use one cutting board for fresh produce and a separate one for raw meat, poultry, and seafood.

• Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs without first washing the plate with hot soapy water.

• Don’t reuse marinades used on raw foods unless you bring them to a boil first.

3. Cook: Cook to proper temperatures Foods are safely cooked when they are heated to the USDA-recommended safe minimum internal temperatures.

To ensure that your foods are cooked safely, always: • Use a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature of cooked foods. Check the internal temperature in several places to make sure that the meat, poultry, seafood, or egg product is cooked all the way through.

• Cook ground beef to at least 160 °F and ground poultry to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. Color of food is not a reliable indicator of safety or doneness.

• Reheat fully cooked hams packaged at a USDA-inspected plant to 140 °F. For fully cooked ham that has been repackaged in any other location or for left-over fully cooked ham, heat to 165 °F. • Cook seafood to 145 °F. Cook shrimp, lobster, and crab until they turn red and the flesh is pearly opaque. Cook clams, mussels, and oysters until the shells open.

• Cook eggs until the yolks and whites are firm. Use only recipes in which the eggs are cooked or heated to 160 °F. • Bring sauces, soups, and gravy to a boil when reheating. Heat other leftovers to 165 °F. • Reheat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna, and other deli meats until steaming hot or 165 °F. • When cooking in a microwave oven, cover food, stir, and rotate for even cooking. If there is no turntable, rotate the dish by hand once or twice during cooking. Always allow standing time, which completes the cooking, before checking the internal temperature with a food thermometer. Food is done when it reaches the USDA recommended safe minimum internal temperature.

4. Chill: Refrigerate promptly Cold temperatures slow the growth of harmful bacteria. Keeping a constant refrigerator temperature of 40 °F or below is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk of foodborne illness. Use an appliance thermometer to be sure the refrigerator temperature is consistently 40°F or below and the freezer temperature is 0 °F or below.

To chill foods properly: • Refrigerate or freeze meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, and other perishables within 2 hours of cooking or purchasing. Refrigerate within 1 hour if the temperature outside is above 90 °F. • Never thaw food at room temperature, such as on the counter top. It is safe to thaw food in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. If you thaw food in cold water or in the microwave, you should cook it immediately.

• Divide large amounts of leftovers into shallow containers for quicker cooling in the refrigerator.

You may contact the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service at www.fsis.usda.gov, to obtain additional food safety information.

Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often Bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get onto cutting boards, utensils, counter tops, and food.

June 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 23

environmental health

Earth-Friendly Household Tips Made Easy A

ccording to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 90 percent of Americans want to protect the environment. Despite the desire to care for the earth, only 33 percent of trash in the U.S. actually gets recycled, and 54 percent gets buried in landfills. With sustainable living becoming more top-of-mind, Ziploc wants to empower families to get involved in recycling efforts.

In an effort to offset the amount of product waste that could potentially end up in landfills and motivate families to do their part to protect the environment for future generations, Ziploc has partnered with Recyclebank, the leading sustainable action platform designed to motivate and enable individuals to make a collective impact on the environment. From recycling and reusing everyday kitchenware to being mindful of water and energy usage, families can incorporate these simple, earthfriendly tips into their kitchen routines: Increase Recycling Efforts Recycle items that you no longer need and participate in community recycling initiatives.

Community support for recycling of common and uncommon goods can vary from place to place. In fact, clean and dry Ziploc Brand Sandwich, Freezer and Storage Bags are now accepted at existing instore recycling bins that accept plastic shopping bags for recycling at approximately 18,000 participating retailers nationwide.

Use “Smart” Kitchen Supplies When buying supplies for your kitchen — whether an appliance, cooking pan or piece of cutlery — choose durable and high quality kitchenware to withstand the test of time. Also, save energy (and potentially reduce your gas bill) by using smaller appliances when cooking small amounts of food. For example, heating water in an electric kettle rather than a teapot on the stove or cooking small or medium sized portions of food in the microwave instead of the regular oven use less energy.

Store Meals in Reusable and Multi-Purpose Containers When preparing and storing meals for the family, try using Ziploc Brand Containers, which are available in a variety of sizes and shapes.

They not only help families stay organized and get more out of meals (and reduce waste) by keeping food fresh, but they are also microwaveable, freezer-safe and are perfect for storing leftovers or carrying lunch to work.

Page 24 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — ­ June 2011

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Conserve the Household Water Supply For a cold beverage, keep a cool pitcher of water in the fridge instead of letting the tap run until water gets cold. Refill one water glass or reusable bottle throughout the day so there will be fewer items to wash. After eating, don’t rinse dishes with water — just scrape off the excess food and load directly into the dishwasher. Tests by Consumer Reports showed that pre-rinsing usually isn’t necessary and by skipping it you can save 20 gallons of water per load.

Through its partnership with Recyclebank, Ziploc is offering another option to get involved and help the environment by incentivizing families to inspire change. Together, they are committed to motivate and reward consumers who take sustainable actions. To earn rewards, visit www.recyclebank.com/ziploc and pledge to recycle Ziploc Brand Bags and packaging. Soon, specially marked packages of the bags will be available for purchase. Simply enter the code from inside the marked packages at www.Recyclebank.com and start earning points which can be redeemed for prizes.

Learn more about Ziploc and Recyclebank recycling efforts to divert millions of pounds of waste from landfills at www.ziploc.com/sustainability. Additionally, share recycling and earth-friendly tips by joining the Facebook community at www.Facebook.com/Ziploc.

Families everywhere have a new option in recycling. Clean and dry Ziploc Brand Sandwich, Freezer and Storage Bags can now be recycled at existing in-store bins at approximately 18,000 participating retail locations that accept plastic shopping bags for recycling. It’s an easy way to protect the environment for future generations. Here is a list from www.PlasticBagRecycling.org of some of the items you can recycle at in-store recycling bins: • Clean and dry Ziploc Brand Bags • Plastic grocery or retail bags • Newspaper bags • Dry-cleaning bags • Bread and produce bags • Toilet paper, napkin and paper-towel wraps • Plastic shipping envelopes • Clean plastic bags labeled #2 or #4 Contact your local retailer with a collection bin or your local recycling company for a full list of items that can be recycled in your community, as they will differ by locale.

children’s health

SIU Med School Specialist Offers Parents Advice on Tonsillitis Submitted by The Office of Public Affairs, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL

A

sore throat is a common complaint of children.

If the pain is severe, it could be tonsillitis. Nearly every child between the ages of five and fifteen experiences tonsillitis at least once says Dr. Sandra Ettema, assistant professor of otolaryngology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and a member of SIU HealthCare in Springfield.

Tonsillitis is an infection of the lymphoid tissue in the back of the throat and can be very painful. School age children are especially susceptible because they are around many other children and frequently exposed to the disease.

“The tonsils are lymph nodes in the back of the mouth and top of the throat. They normally help filter out bacteria to prevent infection in the body. When the tonsils become overwhelmed by a bacterial or viral infection, they swell and can become inflamed, causing tonsillitis,” says Ettema, who also is a member of the St. John’s Children’s Hospital staff.

Children experience a wide range of symptoms with tonsillitis. The primary ones are a sore throat that lasts 48 hours or more, difficulty swallowing, ear pain, a runny nose and voice changes. There may be jaw pain or a bump under the jaw when a lymph node is swollen as well as fever and chills. Swollen, enlarged tonsils also can cause snoring and sleep apnea in children.

“Tonsillitis often goes away on its own after four to ten days. If it does not go away, the child should see a physician who may do a strep test along with a throat culture to determine whether it is caused by streptococcus bacteria,” says Ettema.

Most tonsillitis is caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, which is treated with antibiotics. Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Motrin can be used to help decrease the fever and make the child feel a little better. Adequate rest and fluid hydration are also very important.

“After a child has five to seven episodes of tonsillitis in a year and is missing school, we would consider surgery to remove the tonsils,” says Ettema.

A tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in children. More than a half million procedures are performed annually in children under 15 years old in the U. S. but not just for tonsillitis.

Today many young children have their tonsils removed because of sleep disorder breathing. They may snore or even stop breathing occasionally during their sleep. Or they may have constant nasal congestion, behavior problems and even problems with wetting the bed.

These symptoms all could be due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

If surgery is needed for a child aged three years or younger, they are kept overnight in the hospital because it’s hard for them to understand that they need to drink lots of fluids. While in the hospital, they are given fluids intravenously so they get the necessary fluid hydration.

With older children and adults, the surgery is done as an outpatient procedure.

“The recommended recovery time for tonsillectomy is usually one week of rest at home. The second week after surgery, patients can go back to school or work, but they need to stay quiet and not participate in any physical activity. The throat area needs to heal to prevent bleeding which can cause serious problems and might require additional surgery,” explains Ettema.

The younger the patient is when they have the tonsillectomy, the faster their recovery. Adults tend to have longer recovery times than children because adults have more blood vessels in the throat area.

For more information, go online to www.aap.org and www.kids-ENT.com.

June 2011 — Springfield / Decatur — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 25

Page 26 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Springfield / Decatur — ­ June 2011

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